Customer Reviews

Decline of the West (Exp)

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I love this record. I've practically worn it out listening. It is Neil Young, on acid and waiting for the apocalypse. But actually, that doesn't do it justice because it's completely original. I've been listening to Holy Sons for a long time, and this is my favorite album he's put out, I'll definitely be looking for more from Emil Amos.

Decline of the West is worth purchasing. It needs no description, only steady listening. It is one of the best examples of music no one listens to - for better or worse, but that doesn't matter. What matters is it was recorded and the ears it does reach will only find a privilege most ears will not.

This is why I keep hunting and hunting for new music. Because every few years you find something that splits you wide open when you hear it. I had to pull over while driving just to listen to this album once I realized what it was I had unknowingly popped into my player. If he remains unknown, it's an injustice. I'd say this is somewhere up there and in between Beck, Woven Hand, Radiohead, Wilco. But more drugged out than all of the above. The guy behind Holy Sons is also in the modern psychedelic instrumental outfit Grails.

This album is unlike anything you've ever heard. Maybe try picturing an early Primitive Radio Gods, but with more psychadelia and Italian cinema clips and influence. Give the first track, "Gnostic Device," a listen and you will have a good flavor of the album. Amos is multi-talented, playing pretty much every instrument for his albums, including vocals. His lyrics are tortured, but in a calm way. His voice blends perfectly with the music and creates a great contrast between the light and dark of the music. Percussion is by drums on some tracks and synthesizer on others - the songs mesh perfectly.

This is one of my favorite Holy Sons albums to date. It's a great one to start with (or try "I Want to Live a Peaceful Life" - also excellent). This edition is expanded from its original edition. Originally released by Italian label Awful Bliss in 2006, the album had limited distribution in the U.S. until Partisan Records reissued the album with four new songs and a reorganized track list.

The original edition is pretty hard to find now, but it does have one track that isn't on this album, and the recording sounds rawer than this edition, which has obviously been cleaned up quite a bit. If you can find it, I'd suggest picking up a copy of the original version on vinyl - sounds absolutely great.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!